Many people here will have such thoughts at this time.
Zhu Yuanzhang didn't find it strange.
After all, the Ming Dynasty has been ruined to this point.
He had no hope that these people, all of whom were loyal ministers, would be able to fight to the death for justice.
Able to shed the last drop of blood for the Ming Dynasty.
However, there were some things he still couldn't figure out.
That's what the father-in-law thought?
How could he actually do such a thing?
Other ministers may have a certain way of survival after Li Zicheng arrives.
Even in the future, he can be an official again and the salary will not be bad.
But why would they, relatives of the emperor, do this?
Could it be that after Li Zicheng captured the capital, their lives would be better than before?
Do you think Li Zicheng can let them go?
How is that possible!
Ever since the Sima family killed the emperor in the street and got off to a bad start.
The emperor's sanctity was thrown into the ditch!
Killing the emperor has become very common.
Especially when new dynasties replace old dynasties.
This kind of thing is even more common.
It must be liquidated.
And from the simulator, I saw some pictures.
Zhu Yuanzhang could also see that when people like Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong were fighting for the world.
Some of the princes and other princes granted by the Ming Dynasty were directly beheaded and killed by them.
How could they, the relatives of the current emperor, be spared?
He somewhat wanted to see what Li Zicheng would be like after he entered the city.
What will happen to these people?
Will you regret it then...
While Zhu Yuanzhang was thinking this, the pictures in the simulator were still displayed one after another
Continue to tell him about the chaos in the late Ming Dynasty——
On March 16, Li Zicheng's vanguard arrived in the suburbs of Beijing, captured Changping, and burned the imperial mausoleum.
On this day, while Zhu Youjian was drinking tea calmly, he took the exam at the Zhongzuo Gate to select thirty-three local officials including Huang Guoqi, the magistrate of Ziyang County, with the theme of "pacifying people's hearts, suppressing bandits, and making enough money".
At Haishi, when he received the news, his expression suddenly changed, and he got up and entered the palace.
On March 17, Zhu Youjian went to court to inquire about strategies for defending the city.
The king and his ministers wept at each other, helpless.
Some people even suggested using someone from the "Reverse Case". Zhu Youjian shed tears and wrote a line on the desk with his fingers: "Every civil and military minister can be killed," and asked Wang Zhixin, the eunuch of Dongchang, to read it and then erase it.
That day, Li Zicheng's army began to attack the city.
Most of the three battalions guarding the city were old, weak, sick and disabled, and had no fighting ability, and would collapse at the first touch.
Zhu Youjian lost control of his emotions. He raised his horn to the sky, walked around the hall, held his chest and stamped his feet, and sighed all night long.
He shouted: The civil and military ministers at home and abroad have misled me! Wrong me!
On the morning of March 18th, he summoned his cabinet ministers for the last time and said: Why don’t we all finish our work in Fengxian Hall...
"Alas!"
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, lamenting his misfortune and angry that he would not fight.
I feel exhausted and complicated about Chongzhen's incompetence...
On the same day, Li Zicheng sent the eunuchs Du Xun and Shen Zhixiu who had surrendered to Beijing to negotiate with Zhu Youjian.
The first condition offered was to "cut off territory and make peace", allowing Li Zicheng to become king in the northwest and receive a million taels of silver as a reward.
Can assist in pacifying other rebel armies and the Qing army in Liaodong, but will not perform Hajj.
Another theory is that Zhu Youjian should abdicate.
In short, Zhu Youjian did not agree.
It was windy and rainy in the morning, but the rain stopped at noon, and Li Zicheng ordered the siege to continue.
Before long, a group of Huihui people opened the Guangning Gate, and the outer city fell.
After Zhu Youjian learned about the fall of the outer city, he wanted to summon Li Guozhen, the uncle of Xiangcheng, the governor of Jingying, to lead three battalions to escort him.
The eunuch reported that the soldiers had dispersed and advised him to flee quickly.
Zhu Youjian took the eunuchs to the Meishan Mountain behind the Forbidden City and looked at it.
Finding that the city of Beijing had been heavily besieged and it was difficult to escape, he went down the mountain and returned to Qianqing Palace.
At the first update, Zhu Youjian summoned his brothers-in-law Gong Yonggu and Liu Wenbing and their servants to escort him.
The two replied that according to the ancestral system, they were not allowed to have servants.
Later, Zhu Youjian arranged for the eunuchs Wang Zhixin, Li Zongzhou, and Wang Zhijun to take the three princes, namely Prince Ding, King Yong, and others out of the palace.
Send it to Chengguo Gong Zhu Chunchen and others.
Then there was a final banquet with Queen Zhou and other concubines.
They were asked to commit suicide.
Queen Zhou hanged herself when she returned to Kunning Palace.
Concubine Yuan Guifei was chopped by Zhu Youjian.
Later, Zhu Youjian roared angrily why he was born in my family, and slashed at Princess Changping and Princess Zhaoren with his sword. The former had his arm cut off and fainted, while the latter died on the spot.
He also sent people to various palaces to urge Empress Dowager Yi'an and Xili to commit suicide.
Later, Zhu Youjian summoned Wang Chengen, the eunuch inside and outside the capital, to discuss matters and drank with him.
At the third watch, Zhu Youjian arrived at Wang Chengen's residence, put on a big hat and eunuch's clothes, armed with a three-eyed gun, and led hundreds of eunuchs to break out of the encirclement at Chaoyang Gate, Chongwen Gate, and Zhengyang Gate, but all failed.
Zhu Youjian and Wang Chengen returned to the palace and changed their clothes.
It was already the fifth watch on March 19th, and Zhu Youjian rang the bell in person to summon the civil and military officials.
But no one entered the court.
Finally, he and Wang Chengen climbed to Meishan Mountain and hanged themselves on a tree.
Wang Chengen also hanged himself...
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the picture in the simulator, the motionless Chongzhen hanging on the coal mountain, and the eunuch who accompanied him to the last scene. Wang Chengen and Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes turned red.
His fists were clenched tightly together.
At this moment, his emotions were very complicated.
He was saddened that the Ming Dynasty, which he had created with his own hands, had perished, and he also hated Chongzhen's incompetence.
After a few blind operations, I ended up finishing my whole life.
He could have been able to hang on for a while and take a few more breaths, but in his hands, he completely destroyed the country.
If the country's capital is destroyed, as long as the monarch still exists, the country will not be considered subjugated.
But now, the capital is destroyed first and the monarch dies.
In this case, the country will be destroyed!
However, looking at Chongzhen who chose to hang himself here in Meishan at the last moment.
After all, I couldn't help it any longer, and my eyes looked a little moist.
This descendant wants to do things for the Ming Dynasty.
He also saw various situations in the late Ming Dynasty and remembered them in his heart.
Although he did bad things with good intentions, he still had the courage to take such a path at the last moment.
He regained his integrity and saved the last bit of face.
Zhu Yuanzhang had many other thoughts in his mind.
After all, what he was most worried about didn't happen.
Chongzhen is much better than the emperors of the Song Dynasty, especially Song Huizong, Song Qinzong, and Zhao Gou.
There is no shame like these people...
With these thoughts surging in his heart, Zhu Yuanzhang was waiting for the screen in the simulator to disappear.
Fall back into the cool-down period.
After all, it had always been like this before.
As long as the person being imitated dies.
Then the next scene will come to an abrupt end.
But this time something unexpected happened...
After Zhu Youjian passed away, the images in the simulator did not disappear.
Have to continue.
This made Zhu Yuanzhang, who was already prepared, stunned for a moment.
Then he suppressed all the thoughts in his heart and continued to focus on the simulator.
Then look at the various pictures that appear above.
It’s not a bad idea to look at things that will happen in future generations. You can also use the things in the future as a warning, and try your best to do something so that the things in the future will not happen...
Although there are many things going on, when he watched them, his blood pressure did indeed rise a bit...
——On the morning when Zhu Youjian hanged himself, the entire city of Peiping surrendered.
Li Zicheng entered the imperial city and found the remains of Queen Zhou and other female family members.
The three princes were also betrayed by eunuchs Li Zongzhou and Wang Zhijun and became prisoners.
However, Zhu Youjian's whereabouts was not found.
So Li Zicheng offered a reward of ten thousand taels of gold to search for Zhu Youjian.
It was not until noon on March 20 that Zhu Youjian’s body was discovered...
There is a bloody edict on his chest, expressing his self-blame for having accomplished nothing in the past seventeen years.
Emphasizing that "the ministers misunderstood me".
Finally, let the thieves divide my body, but do not hurt any of the people...
Looking at the bloody edict displayed on the simulator, especially when seeing the words of the thief who split my body and did not hurt any of the people.
Zhu Yuanzhang's mood became more and more complicated.
Chongzhen's words are indeed tough enough.
It can also change many people's impressions of him.
But Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to talk about Li Zicheng who led the attack from outside.
There were also the many people who followed Li Zicheng in.
Was he originally a thief?
Not a thief!
But the people of Ming Dynasty!
He was forced to become a thief by the world and all kinds of chaos...
The scene continues - Youjian's body is transported outside Donghua Gate.
Placed together with the remains of Queen Zhou,
Thirty of the ministers cried and worshiped, and sixty of them worshiped without crying. The rest were all scornful.
Later, at the request of the Ming Dynasty eunuch Wang Dehua and others, Li Zicheng re-embedded the bodies of Zhu Youjian and his wife in better coffins.
He was buried in Concubine Tian's tomb on the third day of April.
Only the eunuchs and common people mourned Zhu Youjian.
During this period, seven officials of the Ming Dynasty who committed suicide and died for their country included Xinlehou Liu Wenbing and his younger brother Dudu Liu Wenyao, Zhangwuhou Yang Chongshan, Prince Consort Gong Yonggu, and Xuancheng Bowei Shichun.
As well as more than 20 civil servants including Fan Jingwen, Ni Yuanlu, and Li Banghua.
Other relatives and civil and military officials basically surrendered to Li Zicheng.
Chen Yan and Zhu Chunchen also took the lead in persuading Li Zicheng to ascend the throne...
"My Ming Dynasty still has loyal ministers and good generals!"
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the scenes in the simulator and couldn't help but talk for a long time.
The mood seemed complicated and a little heavy.
Under Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze, the screen on the simulator continued to flip.
Showing the rest of the scenes after Li Zicheng entered Peiping——
After Li Zicheng moved into the Forbidden City, he made Dou Meiyi his concubine.
When the Dashun Army entered Beijing, Li Zicheng ordered that anyone who dared to hurt others or plunder property or women would be killed without mercy.
The order in the capital is still good and shops are operating as usual...
"It seems that the person who will replace Daming and win the world is undoubtedly Li Zicheng.
Here Li has had the support of the people since he was born.
Now after coming to the capital, he did this again.
The people's support..."
Zhu Yuanzhang was both a little uncomfortable and a little relieved.
At the same time, I am somewhat fortunate that the land of the Han people is still the land of the Han people after all.
After all, the Ming Dynasty did not have the same companions as the Song Dynasty, and it was very embarrassing to lose the country to the foreigners...
But soon, the look on Zhu Yuanzhang's face became different.
In the simulator, the scene on the new screen was really unexpected for him...
——Every day in front of the Meridian Gate, old ministers of the Ming Dynasty are crowded, waiting to be summoned or hired.
Sometimes there are as many as 3,000 people!
On March 23, after they had called for a long time, Li Zicheng finally came to the Huangji Palace to select talents.
Wei Zaode, the former chief minister of the cabinet, applied for probation based on his qualifications.
Li Zicheng looked at him and said: As the chief minister of the cabinet, you are deeply favored by Chongzhen.
Why not be loyal to him?
Wei Zaode said: I am willing to serve the new dynasty, but I dare not die easily...
Li Zicheng thought this man was thick-skinned.
Too lazy to argue with him anymore.
Let Prime Minister Niu Jinxing implement it and select ninety-six people to be sent to the civil service government for appointment.
Those who are not selected are here, and don’t go back.
Escorted by Dashun soldiers to General Quan Liu Zongmin for strict supervision...
"What's going on? What is Li Zicheng going to do? He won't kill all these people, right?
This is more cruel than myself! ”
Zhu Yuanzhang was full of surprises.
The screen then displays, revealing the secret to Zhu Yuanzhang——
Liu Zongmin started working, determined the amount of stipends for these former ministers according to their official positions, and notified their families to send money to receive them.
Prices are all transparent.
The cabinet's bachelor's degree is one hundred thousand taels of silver.
The ministers and officials of various departments received 70,000 taels of silver.
Ke Dao and Yuan Wai Lang had fifty thousand taels of silver.
Hanlin one to thirty thousand taels.
The remaining minor officials range from a few thousand taels...
There is no fixed number of relatives of the emperor, princes and nobles, and their duties are to recover the stolen goods.
The price is clearly marked, so no one can be deceived.
What should I do if I can’t get it?
For Liu Zongmin, this is not a problem at all.
He used torture directly, using clamps, sticks, and soldering irons, whatever was convenient for him to use.
Chen Yan, the former chief assistant, saw the posture and immediately offered 40,000 taels of silver, 3,000 taels of gold, and three measures of pearls.
Chongzhen's father-in-law, Zhou Kui, first offered 100,000 taels of silver. Liu Zongmin thought it was too little, so he served with a iron.
Zhou Kui squeezed out little by little, and finally handed over a total of 600,000 taels of silver, plus countless other gold and jewelry...
Liu Zongmin saw Wei Zaode cowering behind him again, and loudly scolded him for being the chief minister and corrupting the country.
And he personally put on the stick...
With just one clip, the champion and his assistant donated 20,000 taels of silver...
The price of 20,000 taels was obviously not convincing enough to the chief minister of the cabinet.
Liu Zongmin ordered the torture to continue, and the torture lasted for five days and five nights.
Wei Zaode finally suffered a mental breakdown and died.
Before he died, he shouted: I didn't serve the Lord faithfully before, but now it's too late to regret it!
After talking to fellow villagers, we got a total of 70 million taels of silver...
"Hahaha..."
Zhu Yuanzhang watched a scene appear on the screen.
Especially after seeing the mountains of accounts that were finally summarized to Li Zicheng, totaling 70 million taels.
Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help laughing.
Li Zicheng really did a good job!
This is a real move, it’s really satisfying!
Seventy million taels!
Compare this to how ironic it was that when the emperor Chongzhen appealed to them, they searched and searched and came up with a total of 200,000 taels.
Each of these people has various thoughts.
Want to serve the new dynasty.
It's fine now, it was served directly by Li Zicheng!
What a pleasure!
However, after laughing, some worries arose in Zhu Yuanzhang's heart.
The appearance of Li Zicheng was indeed a joy to watch.
But...the Liaodong Tatars are still here.
After such a move, can he still defeat the Tatars?
But don't... let the Tatars really take over the country!
(End of chapter)